ReutersIn final days before election, Liberals announce 411 projects worth $3.86B sparking fresh scrutiny over campaign-time spending
Liberal Members of Parliament (MPs) announced a staggering $3.86 billion in funding commitments across 411 projects nationwide in the week leading up to Canada's 45th general election on March 23, 2025.
This pre-election spending surge, detailed in a Global News analysis, saw 38 Liberal MPs distributing cheques in 37 communities, from Yellowknife to St. John's.
Notably, on March 22, the day before the election call, 26 MPs announced $1.8 billion for 116 projects. Major beneficiaries included Quebec's transit initiatives, with the Quebec City Tramway and Montreal's Blue Line extension receiving top-ups of $332.3 million and $650 million, respectively.
In the week before the 2021 election, Liberals committed $3.03 billion to 495 projects. Similarly, ahead of the 2015 election, the Conservative government announced $2.7 billion across 430 projects.
Over the 44th Parliament's four-year span, Liberal MPs announced 22,290 projects totaling over $110 billion. Of these, 9,834 projects worth $35.8 billion were in Liberal-held ridings, while Conservative ridings received $23.5 billion for 7,038 projects. NDP and Bloc Québécois ridings saw $7.27 billion and $10.7 billion, respectively.
In Ontario, MP Terry Sheehan, facing a challenging re-election in the newly formed Sault Ste. Marie–Algoma riding, proactively announced funding in areas outside his previous jurisdiction. Sheehan visited communities like Wawa and Elliott Lake, announcing cheques totaling over $4.5 million. His efforts culminated in a narrow victory by 1,728 votes.
In Alberta, MP George Chahal announced $8.3 million for 13 projects just before the campaign but lost his seat in Calgary McKnight. Similarly, despite $242.42 million invested in 267 projects in her Quebec riding, former minister Diane Lebouthillier was unseated by a Bloc Québécois challenger.
While such pre-election spending is a recurring strategy, its effectiveness in securing electoral victories remains mixed.
This pre-election spending surge, detailed in a Global News analysis, saw 38 Liberal MPs distributing cheques in 37 communities, from Yellowknife to St. John's.
Notably, on March 22, the day before the election call, 26 MPs announced $1.8 billion for 116 projects. Major beneficiaries included Quebec's transit initiatives, with the Quebec City Tramway and Montreal's Blue Line extension receiving top-ups of $332.3 million and $650 million, respectively.
In the week before the 2021 election, Liberals committed $3.03 billion to 495 projects. Similarly, ahead of the 2015 election, the Conservative government announced $2.7 billion across 430 projects.
Over the 44th Parliament's four-year span, Liberal MPs announced 22,290 projects totaling over $110 billion. Of these, 9,834 projects worth $35.8 billion were in Liberal-held ridings, while Conservative ridings received $23.5 billion for 7,038 projects. NDP and Bloc Québécois ridings saw $7.27 billion and $10.7 billion, respectively.
In Ontario, MP Terry Sheehan, facing a challenging re-election in the newly formed Sault Ste. Marie–Algoma riding, proactively announced funding in areas outside his previous jurisdiction. Sheehan visited communities like Wawa and Elliott Lake, announcing cheques totaling over $4.5 million. His efforts culminated in a narrow victory by 1,728 votes.
In Alberta, MP George Chahal announced $8.3 million for 13 projects just before the campaign but lost his seat in Calgary McKnight. Similarly, despite $242.42 million invested in 267 projects in her Quebec riding, former minister Diane Lebouthillier was unseated by a Bloc Québécois challenger.
While such pre-election spending is a recurring strategy, its effectiveness in securing electoral victories remains mixed.
(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2025 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.)
Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online.
Read More News on
(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2025 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.)
Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online.
